The Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh is a Nationally-Acclaimed Museum

The Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh is a science-based museum located in the downtown area of the city. It was founded in 1991 and was the result of the combination of two famous Pittsburgh institutions: the Carnegie Institute, a museum dedicated to art, science, music, and literature, founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1895; and the Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, founded in 1939 in memory of local department store magnate, Henry Buhl, Jr.

Today, the merger has resulted in the creation of one of Pittsburgh's most successful museums, an exciting hands-on science center that attracts visitors of all ages. The Carnegie Science Center boasts a great collection of permanent exhibits and hosts a variety of visiting exhibits annually as well. Some of the permanent displays at the center include: the Miniature Railroad and Village, a long-time favorite attraction that displays Pittsburgh scenes at the turn of the 20th century; Highmark Sports World, renovated in 2009 and featuring three themed areas - Physics of Sports, LifeWorks, and Sports Challenge - each offering a variety of displays, hands-on activities, and tests of sports agility; SeaScape, a 2,000-gallon five-tank coral reef ecosystem where visitors can view 500 species of plants and animals; Building Green, a display that emphasizes the importance of green buildings and their positive impact on the environment; and Exploration Station, an 8,000 square foot area designed especially for children. Here they can launch air rockets, touch lizards, or try their hand at playing the laser harp.

In addition to these exhibits, the Carnegie Science Center also boasts the Buhl Digital Dome, a new planetarium experience that is state of the art. There are a variety of shows from which to choose, including "The Sky Over Mr. Roger's Neighborhood'', a favorite with families. The planetarium also hosts laser shows on weekend evenings, scored to a variety of rock favorites. There's also an observatory on sight for those interested in a close-up look at the sky.

The onsite Kitchen Theater at the Carnegie Science Center offer "Science You Can Eat'' demonstrations, with shows highlighting food, the chemistry of cooking, and much more. Similarly, the Works Theater exposes guests to a variety of other fun scientific experiments revolving around topics such as electricity, weather, light, and fossil fuels.

A host of special programs for all ages can be enjoyed at the Carnegie Science Center. Classes are offered for children as young as pre-school age. Weekend science workshops for school-aged children are quite popular as are the institution's summer and holiday camps for kids age 4 and up. In addition, the museum offers Science Sleepovers, an opportunity for kids to get a unique look at the museum, participate in scavenger hunts and other activities, and learn things they might not otherwise learn on a average trip to the museum.

The River View Caf, offers a diverse menu for those who wish to dine at the museum and there's also an excellent museum shop, known as the Xplor Store. The Carnegie Science Center is open daily with late hours on Friday and Saturday evenings for laser shows and Omnimax films.